Meet the Romanovs in Westlake this spring

by Joan Grace

The Case Western Reserve University Off-Campus Studies program will study Nicholas and Alexandra with leader-teacher Betty Zak on Thursdays, March 23 to May 11, 10:00-11:30 a.m., at Westlake United Methodist Church, 27650 Center Ridge Road.

Nicholas and Alexandra have been called saints, innocent victims, harbingers of revolution among many other names. What really happened? Was it a love that extended beyond each other? Was it a love that ended an empire? Discover their passion, their strengths and their weaknesses in a new light. We begin with the traditional reading of Robert Massie's "Nicholas and Alexandra" followed by summaries of newly Russian released documents involving Rasputin, Alex and Nicky and Alexandra's lady-in-waiting. We'll then extrapolate possibilities through our second book, "The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar," by Robert Alexander.

The Off-Campus Studies program is offered in collaboration with the Association for Continuing Education (ACE). These book-discussion courses provide an open environment for lively discussion based on meaningful examination of shared texts. There are no written assignments or exams. Leader-teachers facilitate discussion and provide academic background and context. The fee for each course is $82 for members, $97 for non-members.